Himachal Police seize bribe money in red sanders wood smuggling case

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh police has recovered the graft money from the ITBP officer allegedly received to help the smuggling of banned red sanders wood to China from Kaurik border.

Two ITBP officials – Deputy Commandant Sukhdev Singh Rana and Inspector Manmohan Singh were earlier arrested for having issued permits to the accused to carry the wood closer to the India-China border in Lahaul and Spiti district.

"We have recovered cash amounting to Rs.6,89,450 from a pit near Sukhdev’s house at Sumdoh on a tip-off by his subordinates," Superintendent of Police SR Rana said.

He said the cash was allegedly received by Sukhdev in lieu of favours extended to the smugglers. Sukhdev said during investigations that he had destroyed the cash offered to him by the smugglers after he came to know that police were looking for him in the case, the police said.

Two trucks transporting 12 tonnes of red sanders wood were seized at Kaurik, three kilometres from the international border, on the night of Aug 23. The truck drivers, Vijay Kumar and Raju, were arrested. Both the drivers had in possession valid permits issued by the ITBP at Sumdoh to move close to the border.